Bryan brothers win latest installment of emerging doubles rivalry with Canadian Vasek Pospisil and partner Jack Sock

Bob and Mike Bryan, all of 36 years old now, must look over at the other side of the net sometimes and see a modern version of their younger selves.

The energetic team of Vancouver's Vasek Pospisil and emerging U.S. star Jack Sock have all of the bouncy, insouciant energy the twins once did – even though by current ATP Tour doubles standards, the twins are as energetic as anyone even after winning more than 100 tournaments together.

The meeting between the two pairs in the Miami Open final was their fourth in the last nine months. And the Bryans evened the head-to-head at 2-2 with a tough 6-3, 1-6, 10-8 victory.

The first set turned on one point, a sudden-death deuce point early in the set.

The second went quickly in Pospisil and Sock's favour; Mike Bryan double-faulted on a deciding point to gift them with the first break. The second break came on a massive forehand from Sock to earn a break point, and another massive forehand on a serve return.

That momentum was quickly quashed, though, with a routine volley Sock failed to put away in the second point of the match tiebreak. Pospisil and Sock quickly went down 0-5. And 2-7. And 4-8.

And then they caught up at 8-8.

And then, just as quickly, it was over. Sock had a forehand he could have cranked – but didn't – that would have given them a match point on their own serve. And then Pospisil let a ball go by down the middle that landed in. And that was it.

As close as the final score was, the biggest different in this one was probably some so-so volleying and smashing by Sock – especially on relatively easy balls he should have put away. And still, they came within one volley of taking it.

To say the least, the Bryans were pumped after the victory. The handshakes at the net were far less, let's say, warm and fuzzy than they were the first time the two teams met, in that Wimbledon final last summer. The twins are as competitive as they come; it's ON.

As much as doubles takes a supporting role to the singles at major events, this is a rivalry that has everything to give it a spark – assuming Pospisil and Sock continue to play doubles in the major events, with both so focused on their burgeoning singles careers.

For Pospisil and Sock, that's a title at Indian Wells and a final in Miami on the American hard-court swing, both bigger events (32-team draws compared to most ATP events, which have 16-team draws).

The only concern would be the tape on Pospisil's left knee. He has had ongoing recent issues with tendonitis– nothing serious, he says. But the Canadian fiddled with the tape a lot as the match went on, even if it didn't appear to hamper him.

Next week, Sock is playing the clay-court event in Houston, Texas, which Pospisil is skipping. Sock will play doubles with countryman Ryan Harrison. Neither is playing Monte Carlo; Sock isn't playing Barcelona. Both

should be at the Masters 1000 events in Rome and Madrid (even though Pospisil likely will be in the qualifying in Madrid). Those might be their next opportunities to play together.

The Bryans, of course, will be right there, every time, ready and waiting.